Allies’ briefing blunder exposes Labour leader to ridicule
With plans to defend their boss, Starmer allies have repeated the mistake Kevin Rudd’s office made in June 2010 when the then prime minister’s advisers summoned Labor MPs to test their loyalty in a possible contest with then-deputy prime minister Julia Gillard.
When Sydney Morning Herald When Gillard revealed these calls on her front page, she reacted by interpreting the briefings as an act of disloyalty on Rudd’s part. That day, history was made minute by minute. Gillard challenged and Rudd conceded defeat that night.
The mistake at Westminster is different: Starmer’s allies were on a mission to brief journalists on the leadership, not to propagandize MPs about the vote. The common factor was unnecessary provocation by a potential rival.
Streeting responded cautiously in television interviews Wednesday morning. He declared his loyalty to Starmer. However, he also suggested that the advisors who briefed journalists should be suspended from the prime minister’s office.
Starmer announced his support for Streeting and said he did not condone attacks on cabinet ministers. But the briefings were of course anonymous and were described in the media as coming from Downing Street. This will only spread suspicion and bad blood.
While the government sought to show unity, the surprising day raised three broad questions about its future.
Loading
The first concerns Starmer’s political judgment. The Prime Minister has been sending advisers to Downing Street since coming to power last year, but his office never seems to stabilize. Is he unlucky with the staff? Or is that the problem?
The second is about replacing Starmer. No Labor minister has emerged with the claim of pulling Labor out of its slump in the opinion polls and giving it a new sense of mission. Only 27 percent of voters have a positive view of Starmer, according to polling company YouGov. A Labor Party member, Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, is on 34 percent but is inexperienced and not in parliament. None of the others are popular. This alone means Starmer is likely to stay.
With his masterful response to this storm, Streeting could build his national profile and win support among Labor MPs in the future.
The third question is whether this government can actually achieve the national renewal that Starmer claims is his mission. Britain is calm and waiting for leadership. Meanwhile, labor is torn apart by conflict. Most MPs look panicked and most of their advisors look incompetent.
By turning attention to themselves, they only highlight doubts about whether they deserve their jobs.
Take notes directly from our foreign country reporters about things that make headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What’s on in the World Newsletter.
